THE WAIHOPAI ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 7

THE WAIHOPAI ELECTIONS.

lTh« nomination , of candidates^ fforr r the electoral dis^cto^jyaihoip^" took. place i pn the 3.5t1i, noon, •t'tno^bourt-HoiiaeY ]Wer,ci.rgili: ' A temporary' hustings was erected 7 outside : the -building, i thus enabling all,whp-camecto be'.quite; within hearing; and ; tiie,rday, proving r mpsfc .^favorable, a, large, attendance of "electors i ,i arid " "others watched 'the proceedings^ '-;";"' -'-: ■-■■:■.* .*'-■:■. ■-.:• ".^'■■■'.- The Returning Officer, Mr, John Hare, briefly., opened the ''.business, l^ and I. called, upon the electors tprnominateAcandidatesrfbr the. two. vaeant•eats. * „... ,,;. „. ./_ ; - . ... : -„ -.-:... ' Mr. John Haretlien, in a few words, proposed MrV : ,P- v ?v Button^ brewer, as a fie and ."proper, person to represent the .(iistrict'in thVPrbyincial: Counc.U. ;' ,< ;.'' \ ' -.'}"''-''. .'' . : ' "\ .' ' ■ Mri PEßkiNS seconded the nomination. K lir. ; 1 V ;^ Wi 'MrccHELic 3 proposed Mr." P. Dal-' ryrriple.l ......'..'...1 .....'.... "... _ rHis ■ nomination was seconded by Mr. W. Smith."' 1 L ; L . ..."..'' : '\ ■'"' - ',' ' ••«■' Mr. J. W. Mitchell was then proposed.by Mr. H;:B. Monkman", Seconded by Mr. G. Elmot. Mr. D. Mitchell, thereafter proposed Mr. H. B. Monkman, whose nomination was seconded by Mr. F. Scora. ; ' ; " ' .. Some informality having occurred- in Mr. D. Mitehell, ? s proposing candidates, the mistake was. rectified, and Mr. SrißsAyEK stepped forward and proposed Mr. ' JKmes Wil'sbri for re-election, as a member for thlFdistrietr ■"" " "■"' Mr. Cotttts seconded his nomination. Mr. Jasces-HabveicL thereafter proposed Mr. Jabez.Hay in; a,neat speech, and his nomination was seconded by Mr. Pbatt.. Mr. C. S. Button them addressed the electors at length, giving an exposition of his political views, for which, we can only find space for.a short reswwje. The first topic he referred to was that of the Superintendency. ,He said;it was the question uppermost iv. the" public mind, and party-spirit was running yery'.highl ',' There, were, ny fact, two or three parties in the province at the present time — ; One said-: "put liim (Dr. Menzies) in— " The other said: "put him out." While; the medium party said: " get a better man in his place if you can." Be had been asked inosfc positively to pledge himself to vote against Dr. Menzies, but lie -was sure the electors of Waihopai would never cast their members into the Council as mere voting machines.. He believed some gentleman more capable of filling the post of Superintendent in the present position of the Province, could be found than Dr. Menzies. He was elected to that office at a time when the Province was in a very different position than it now is. The pastoral interest was then the strongest, but circumstances have materially changed in that respect. He .rould remind them £hat it was that interest which put in the annual value-to-let clause in the Roads Ordinance; and it was no^ fair that any interest ■hould be over-ridden by. another in anything. The clause in question was h, most iniquitous one, and he was, sure the agricultural interest would never prosper, till a change was effected. He would ■upport a system of assessment at so much per acre. The, candidate then adverted to the Pig Nuisance Act, which he characterised as a disgrace to all who had had anything to do with it. 'He then said lie would not further trespass on the time of the. meeting, but declared himself willing to reply to any questions which might be wkedof him. ' In reply to questions put, Mr. Button said he did not remember the provisions of the Executive Councils Ordinance, but he understood its general principles, and believed that if it worked wellinOtago, it should do so here. He did not know what the delegated powers conferred by the Governor on the Superintendent referred to. He was in favor of the Superintendent being controlled by the decisions of a majority of his Executive. He thought a better man for the post of Superintendent could be got than Dr. Menzies, and he thought the Province required a better one." He was not in a position to name a successor to Dr. Menzies. He had not made up his mind on the question. In reply to the question, " If no one else comes forward, will you support Dr. Menzie3 ?" Mr. Button replied— He will not require any support. He should in this event, however, advise the adjournment of the House till the question was finally •settled. He had heard several names mentioned. (Crie9 of "name.") Being pressed 'to it, ' Mr. Button replied that Mr. S. P. Taylor of Riverton, and Dr. Hodgkinson, had been mentioned, but before supporting either, he would make himself acquainted with their views on public matters and their qualifications for the poat. In the 'event of new candidates coming forward he would not call' a public meeting of his constituents, but he would personally consult with certain of the more "thoughtful" of them. He was in favor of the repeal of the Education Ordinance, as he did not understand why people should teach other people's children any more than feed them Mr. Peter Dalbymple now stepped forward and said— Gentlemen, I am afraid of you by the very looks of you. (Great laughter and cheers). I have only to state that I now appear before you to say that I have resigned in favor of Mr. Monkman. (Great hooting and uproar, and cries of "That's a dodge l"). ± thank you, gentlemen, for the support hitherto promised me. (Renewed uproar). Mr. J. W. MiTCHEi.i.next addressed the electors, and asked them to forgive him for not making a long speech, as only half-an-hour ago he had been asked tp stand, He had ' consented, as he considered that a man whose all is in Southland ihould dohis best for it in its present straits. His all was in the Province— he had a heavy stake. (Sell out !) He would if he could find a purchaser, and not being able to find any better man to go into Council, he had, determined to come forward himself. are : two parties in the Province just now, he said, and they are fighting to the knife, and as* a njan must choose between the two, he would state to - the electors the' reasons for the faith thjal ' Was in him: He then said he was a supporter jof Drl Menzies, as he considered him the fittest man for the post of Superintendent; He (Mr. Mitchell) haS a few notes at stake, 'ami' he would rather confide them to Dr. Menzies' keeping than, to any one else now before them. (A voice— He can't takefcare of his bwri).^ ]fe Mitchell then expressed himself m favor "of immigration of perspns with, small capital, and also in. favor of .agents ; in the home country to" preach up the province* as ineligible place for settlement: He would see that the East Road got- its ; share of the public fendsj arid would abohsh the Pig Nuisance Ordinance/;: •' ; .;.' ''■„-.-, '-. , "■" ' " ; 'V;''," : "'| In reply to further questions, he was in favor of a reduction iri'the price - of' lahdj and would cup-' .■w^i^^coT^^im^of-.'^'^a^ Railway." pc ■'would'havethe' Superintendent abide by the deciaipn of a majority of the, Executive. He would_ rote for Mr.'Holmes or' lVTr. 1 Thompson in preference tp Dr.- Menzws^if they : came forward. • Mr. MoNKiniw now addressed, 'the electors, and ■aicL'thatlaß/lie had onlysthepxevipuß evening been asked (to stand he "had not prepared any \ set '' ■peech fbrUhe Occasion, but would be happy to be* aateohised on any subjects the electors might ■.:«tasas<ftfcL' '.••■■ m ■ z£^\ r *- \ rY '^ ' i-%; In reply, to questions,. Mr. MqjrKMAK expressed (, in fevpr of 'proportionate distributiori of the public moneys. 'He was in favor of the itomi- '• mtion " of L a. "-proper J clasß^- ; ~ J -He .' considered; the, Q^wmmrCToßt:wiaUiiow;^ue M pu : (i -, to » W!f*itt < w)»ni -X? wduli vqte / iot pr, *i ; -iw*'i* butfce iwttll tom «|?e» W\\ #°\*W

pledged to Dr. Menzies.. He would. certainly_nbt vote for^^MK Healed "aiid - tlioughtr^ the ■Superintendent shouldriot make important appPintmentsunless. witlf/the cqnsent ,pf his .Executive. % He did-uoi'believ(j in class ; immigration.! He would not support Mr. Thompson in. preference i to; JDr. Menzies j and thought.- Goxerriment "contractors j were better out. of the Council.; He was of opinion that the East Road had been sadly neglected. The/present price .of land , he regarded as : absurd r andicalcuhited ;tp retard, progress. It should not be more than 20s. an acre. , v ; /;. .,:. , ; ; ; '■";/'; ; -After several minoE questions were an» wered,; , -Mr. WliiSON addressed the electors^ He referre , to.hisbeing elected- a member for the Waihopa diafirict, 1 at' ; the first generaf electiori,"and . to liis retaining his seat for it ever 'since.. He then made reference to certain Acts passed, by the Council, which lie,; considered^^^detrimental to prosperity 1 of the, Province., He. was pne : w^ha tppkj. active : 'steps for the withholding of Her.Majesty^fasseht 5 |to. the. 7 New, jWaste; ismds Act! JJ The ; , had jprepai*ed a memorial on the. subject, arid in their anxiety one" night to ; have it completed in order to be transmitted; by: the Northern mail wluch [left next day, they had to let it go without re;ceivirig - some signatures., The memorial was ) given to "tEe~clerk~of-GoUncil- (who -is also clerk-to:; j the S.uperiritendent);that night,; and if -it . was^not 'forwarded. per. the next day's njail, who was to -blame? He thought it was a.. monstrous thing "to coriimence their Railway system with 1 a Land; Act which prevented, immigratipn—nay, which drove people out of the Provirice; He then ani- ■ madverted on the insufficiency of the representation of the Province in the North Island.. He was in. favor of State aid' for education ;' and fe- ' s gret*^d the action; of tlie Gpverhmenf with 1 regard; to the .'Escort question; 'citing : - South Australia as ah instance -where it had been successfully worked withtheg T dldfieldsofVict6ria,. He wasiu favor ■of separation from the North Island. Would not support a further extension of the Wooden Eailway, feut thought the Bliiff line should be completed at all hazards. A variety of questions having been put and satisfactorily replied to by the candidate, .• ~Mx.. HATstepped forward and said that having ah-eady pretty fully explained his views on the various questions before themj he would now not detain the dectors by making . a long speech, but would be glad to answer any questions which might be put to him. ' In reply to questions, Mr. Hat said he was not in favor of Mr. Stuart as Superintendent. He was not pledged to vote for or against Dr. Menzies. He would prefer Dr. Hodgkinson or Mr. Thompson to him. He did not kn'o\v Dr. Hodgkinson's views accurately, but ho looked on the Superintendent more in the light of a chairman than anything else. He was in favor of the completion of the Bluff Railway, and an enquiry into the construction of. the .Great Northern Railway. He did not find fault with the present immigration system carried on a moderate scale. The RETUBNiNa Officer now called for a show of hands, which resulted as follows : — Eor Mr. Button 3 — Mr. Mitchell 9 — Mr. Monkman 12 Mr. Wilson lo — Mr. Hay 19 The show was decided in favor of Messrs. Wilson and Hay, and a poll was demanded on behalf of the other candidates. The polling takes place to-day, at the CourtHouse, Invercargill, between the hours of nine a.m., and four p.m. — S. T.. Nov. 16.